Motor driven centrifugal pump

ABSTRACT

A motor driven centrifugal pump characterized by a unique housing, motor and impeller which provide the pump with a simple low-cost construction, compact size, quiet operation and other features that adapt the pump for use in a trailer, camper or the like for pumping water from a storage tank to a tap or other outlet.

United StatesPatent [191 Bunch [451 Aug. 14, 1973 1 MOTOR DRIVENCENTRIFUGAL PUMP [75 1 Inventor: Robert E. Bunch, Laverne, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Zenith Manufacturing Inc., El

Monte, Calif.

221 Filed: Dec, 9, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 206,256

[52] US. Cl 417/424, 415/200, 415/214 [51] Int. Cl. F04b 17/00 [58]Field of Search 417/424; 415/214,

[56] Rem-mes Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,408,942 11/1968 Davenport eta1. 417/424 1,518,916 12/1924 Greenwell 415/201 2,669,188 2/1954McIntyre 415/214 3,179,058 4/1965 Meagher 417/424 3,264,999 8/ 1966Tutthill 417/424 1,790,470 1/1931 Hansen 415/206 2,144,411 1/1939 Mace415/206 Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Attorney-Boniard 1. Brown [57]ABSTRACT A motor driven centrifugal pump characterized by a uniquehousing, motor and impellier which provide the pump with a simplelow-cost construction, compact size, quiet operation and other featuresthat adapt the pump for use in a trailer, camper or the 1ike for pumpingwater from a storage tank to a tap or other outlet.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MOTOR DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL PUMP BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto pumps and more particularly to a novel centrifugal pump.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art As will appear from the ensuingdescription, the centrifugal pump of the invention is capable of a widevariety of uses. The pump is intended primarily for use as a water pumpin recreational vehicles such as campers, trailers, and the like,however, and will be described in connection with this particular use.

Campers, trailers and other recreational vehicles are equipped with oneor more taps and, in some cases, other water outlets which receive waterfrom a storage tank on the vehicle. Water is transported from the tankto the outlets by hand operated or motor driven pumps. The motor drivenpumps are obviously superior to hand operated pumps. The existing motordriven pumps for this purpose, however, have certain deficiencies whichthis invention overcomes. Foremost among these are costly construction,large size, andnoisy op eration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved pump of this invention is acentrifugal pump having a housing containing a motor and centrifugalimpeller. The housing may be conveniently injection molded from plasticand has a unique three-part construction. This housing has a centralcircular wall member with axially projecting annular flanges about itsedges and two generally cup-shaped end portions. One end portion issealed to one side of the wall member in overlapping telescopingrelation to its adjacent flange and forms with the wall member a pumpchamber containing the centrifugal impeller. Extending axially from theend portion is an inlet nipple which is externally threaded or otherwiseadapted for connection to the water tank. An outlet nipple extendstangentially from the end portion for connection to a water pipe leadingto the trailer or camper water outlets. The opposite end portion of thehousing is sealed to the other side of the wall member in overlappingtelescoping relation to its adjacent flangeand contains the pump motor.

Projecting laterally from the end of the pump motor adjacent the wallmember are a pair of electrical terminals. These terminals extendexternally of the pump housing through slots in the end portion of thehousing containing the motor.

The pump impeller may also be conveniently injection molded from plasticand has a number of radial vanesQThe edges of these vanes are disposedin fluid sealing relation to the wall of the pumping chamber so thatrotation of the impeller by the pump motor impels water from the chamberthrough the outlet. Each vane inclines forwardly in the direction ofrotation toward the inlet end of the chamber in such a way as to enhancethe centrifugal pumping action of the impeller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pumpaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3--3 in FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified inlet nipple for the pump.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated centrifugal pump10 has a housing 12 containing a motor 14 and a centrifugal impeller 16.Housing 12 has three parts 18, 20 and 22 which may be convenientlyinjection molded from plastic.

Housing part 18 is a circular wall member with axially projectingannular flanges 24, 26 about its edges. Housing part 20 is a generallycup-shaped end portion having a cylindrical wall 28 and an end wall 30.The open end of the end portion 20 seats against one side of the wallmember 18 in overlapping telescoping relation with its flange 24. Theend portion is adhesively bonded or otherwise sealed to the wall memberto form with the member a circular pump chamber 32.

Extending axially from the end wall 30 is an inlet nipple 34 containinga water passage 36 opening to the pump chamber 32. Nipple 34 isexternally threaded for connection to a pump mount, such as the wall ofa trailer or camper water tank with the inlet passage in communicationwith the tank interior. FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative inlet nippleconfiguration 38 having circumferential ribs and grooves and adapted tobe adhesively bonded to a pump mount. An outlet nipple 40 extendstangentially from the housing end portion 20 and contains an outletpassage-42 opening tangentially to the pump chamber 32.

Housing part 22 is a cup-shaped end portion which seats against theopposite side of the wall member 18 in overlapping telescoping relationto its flange 26. The end portion is adhesively bonded or otherwisesecured to the wall member and contains 'the pump motor 14. The motorshaft 44 extends through the wall member 18 and issealed to the memberin any convenient manner. Extending laterally from the end of the motor14 adjacent the wall member 18 are electrical terminals 46. Theseterminals extend externally of the housing through slots 48 in the endportion 22 for connection to an electrical power source. A variety ofmotors may be used in the pump. The preferred motor, however, is a 5,000r.p.m. 12 V., 1% amp motor of Rowe Industries, New York.

The pump impeller 16 may be conveniently molded from plastic and isrigidly attached to the motor shaft 44 within the pump chamber 32. Theimpeller has radial vanes 50 whose edges are disposed in fluid sealingrelation to the pump chamber walls. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, theimpeller vanes incline forwardly inthe direction of impeller rotation.

When the impeller 16 is driven by the motor 14, the impeller vanes 50centrifugally impel water from the pump chamber 32 through the outletpassage 42 to produce a centrifugal pumping action. The inclination ofthe vanes enhances this pumping action.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Paten l. A pump comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing having a coaxial cylindrical pumpchamber in one end, an inlet nipple extending coaxially from saidhousing end and contajning an inlet passage opening to said chamber,means on said nipple for securing said nipple and thereby the entirepump to a pump mount, an outlet nipple extending tangentially from saidhousing adjacent said end and containing an outlet passage openingtangentially to said chamber, and a motor chamber in the opposite end ofsaid housing,

said housing comprising a circular wall member between and forming acommon boundry wall of said chambers and having circular flanges aboutits edge projecting axially beyond opposite sides of the wall member, afirst generally cup-shaped end portion having a cylindrical wall seatingagainst and sealed to one side of said wall member with the adjacentflange of the wall member overlapping the cylindrical wall of said endportion to form said pump chamber, said inlet nipple and outlet nippleextending from said cup portion, and a second generally cup-shaped endportion having a cylindrical wall seating against and sealed to theopposite side of said wall member with the adjacent flange of said wallmember overlapping the cylindrical wall of said second end portion toform said motor chamber,

a centrifugal pump impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber to turnabout the axis of the chamber, and

a motor in said motor chamber having a shaft connected to said impellerfor driving said impeller in rotation.

2. A pump according to claim 1 wherein:

said motor has electrical terminals projecting laterally through alignedopenings in the cylindrical wall of said second end portion and theadjacent flange of said wall member.

3. A pump according to claim 1 wherein:

said inlet nipple securing means comprise external threads.

4. A pump according to claim 1 wherein:

said inlet nipple securing means comprise external circumferential ribs.

1. A pump comprising: a generally cylindrical housing having a coaxialcylindrical pump chamber in one end, an inlet nipple extending coaxiallyfrom said housing end and containing an inlet passage opening to saidchamber, means on said nipple for securing said nipple and thereby theentire pump to a pump mount, an outlet nipple extending tangentiallyfrom said housing adjacent said end and containing an outlet passageopening tangentially to said chamber, and a motor chamber in theopposite end of said housing, said housing comprising a circular wallmember between and forming a common boundry wall of said chambers andhaving circular flanges about its edge projecting axially beyondopposite sides of the wall member, a first generally cup-shaped endportion having a cylindrical wall seating against and sealed to one sideof said wall member with the adjacent flange of the wall memberoverlapping the cylindrical wall of said end portion to form said pumpchamber, said inlet nipple and outlet nipple extending froM said cupportion, and a second generally cup-shaped end portion having acylindrical wall seating against and sealed to the opposite side of saidwall member with the adjacent flange of said wall member overlapping thecylindrical wall of said second end portion to form said motor chamber,a centrifugal pump impeller rotatably mounted in said chamber to turnabout the axis of the chamber, and a motor in said motor chamber havinga shaft connected to said impeller for driving said impeller inrotation.
 2. A pump according to claim 1 wherein: said motor haselectrical terminals projecting laterally through aligned openings inthe cylindrical wall of said second end portion and the adjacent flangeof said wall member.
 3. A pump according to claim 1 wherein: said inletnipple securing means comprise external threads.
 4. A pump according toclaim 1 wherein: said inlet nipple securing means comprise externalcircumferential ribs.